Fruit-drier.



"Noi 740,588,V `PMENTED.om?. s, 1903,

FRUIT DRIBR.

v APPLIUATION FILED MAY 18, 1899. A

No mmm. v asuma-SHEET 1.

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Nq. '740;588 l MENTREl 00m.- 6, 1903.

A. A. QUARNBBRG- FRUIT mum..

'PPLIUATIN FILED MAY 113| 1899.' Y

H0, MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET' No. 740,588. PATENTED OGILG, 1903.

' A. -A.'-QUARNBEB.G.

FRUIT DRIBR.

APPLIGATIONILED MAY 18, 1899.

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'rus nomas PETERS cu. Horuumow wksuwnrow u ivo. 740,588.

UNITED STAT-ns Patented October 6, 1903.d

Parana- Ormes.

FRuiT-DRIER.

srnciFIcA'rIo'N forming part of Lettersratea'.; No. 740,588, dated october e,

Application filed May 18, 1899.: Serial No. 717,373. (No model.)l

.To all whom .5 petty concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW A. QUAaN-j BERG, a citizen of the United States of Ameri ica, and a resident of the city of Vancouver,

county of Clarke, State of Washington, have invented certain 'new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Driers, of which the following ing rapid and uniform'drying of the fruit and the Whole being compactly and conveniently arranged, so that a considerable quantity of fruit may be successfully handled.

The construction of my invention is fully illustratedin the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of my drier, showing its outward appearance, the right halfof n the outer wall or casing being removed, so as to show the interior arrangement, and the outer wall closing the ends of the induction` passages has been likewise removed to show the deiiectorsjj' 7e k t Z. Fig. 2`is apartial plan of the floor of my drier. l:"i r.@A is a partial perspective end view of my drier; Fig. 4

is a perspective of the framework of the air.

are ind action-passages. Fig. 6 is a partial cross-section of aside of .one of the tray-holding or drying compartments. Fig.`7 is a partial vertical cross-section of the same part of such. compartments. Fig. 8 is a partial elevation of a series of tray-holding or drying compartments diering in structure fromv those seen in Fig. 1 in this: that the upright timbers ofthe frame ofthe sides of such com` partm'ents are set perpendicular insteadof ieaning. The object of this modification in structure will bemore fully explained inthe body ofthe specification. plan of the under side of the floor of the tray- Fig. 5 illustrates the application of similar heat-deectors. vln' one-of the ends? Fig. 9 is a partialf holding or drying compartments illustrated in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 shows a frontelevation of the handle m of one of the heat-deflectors (m, for example) and means for securing the handle and therewith the deliectorin desired position. Fig. 1l is a partial side elevation ofthe same parts shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a cross-section of one of thes'lats lon the hot-air-inlet side of the drying-compartment,

provided with the projecting shield t2 andan enlarged back rail of', the functions of which will be more fully explained. in the body of the specification; and Fig. 13 is an enlarged longitudinal section of a portion of the fioor this same ligure also showing lsuch slats as in one of the drying-compartments, showing the opening 'n in each' floor communicating with the heating-chamber and a damper a in such opening controlling the same.

The letters designate the parts of my fruitdrier referred to in the description of its conl struction.

In its appearance my invention represents a box-like casing a,having greaterlengththan Width and mountedon a masonry foundation b, which should comprise a chamber forheating the air to be circulated through the dry- .ing-compartments and some suitable contrivauce for generating the required heat. The details of constructionof these apartments of my'invention I did not deem necessary to illustrate in the drawings. The gaseous products of the furnace'are carried oi through a chimney c. Openings are provided in the heating-cham ber for the admission of air from the outside. The interior of the casing is divided into a series of leaning rectangular transversely extending drying compartments, as d d', the ends of which are entirely closed by doors e, comprising two or more secseries of diaphragm valves or dampers as, whereby the openings through the roof into the iiues may be partly or entirely closed. The posts g may be made leaning or vertical. Preferring the former as best suited to accom plish the general plans of my invention, I will in the first place consider my invention as built with leaning posts g. Such posts constitute the corners of my drying-compartments,which are practically alike in construction. Aftixed to the posts g are a series of slats h and ,extending horizontally crosswise. With the use of leaning posts the slats hr1 may be so attached as to project at right angles, whereby the fruit-trays are given a slight incline sidewise for the purpose of promoting the circulation of the heated air between the trays. Each opposite pair of slats h t' constitute the supports for two fruit-trays. As already mentioned, the closure of the sides of the drying-compartments is effected by the slats h t'. The intermediate spaces between the drying-compartments constitute induction (o) and eduction (p) passages for the hot air that is to be or has been circulated through the drying-compartments. bottom of the drying-com partments are closed with sheet-iron with the exception of small rectangular openings n, provided with dampers n', a detail of which is shown in Fig. 13. The openingsn are provided to allow a limited supply of hot air to enter the base of the drying-compartment direct to insure the proper drying of the fruit in the lowest trays. The damper n' should be hinged at the bottom of the sills, so as not to obstruct the entrance of the hot air beneath the. lowest trays from the induction-passages o. The damper n should be adjusted, of course, to admit only the required amount of hot air through n. The arrangement of the slats 1l on that side of the' compartment through which the hot air is admitted to the fruit-trays is one ofthe essential points to be observed in the con-4 struction of my invention. As will be seen from Figs. l and '7, the heated air is admitted between the trays through the rectangular openings left between such slats. The size of the slats t', closing the upper half or portion of the compartments, is graduated-that is to say, the slats as they reach the upper part of the compartment are provided with "flange-backs t', (see Fig. 12,) increasing in size toward the uppermost slats progressively. This arrangement is well illustrated in Fig. 7. The objeet thereofis to gradually diminish the size ot' the rectangular openings admitting the heated air to the fruit-trays to retard lthe escape of air into the drying-compartments from the upper part of the inductionpassage o, where the hot air will tryto escape first, and making the largest openings from such induction-passages lower down to facilitate the escape of the hot air retarded in its upward progress into the lower part of such compartments. The construction of the airinduction passages, tapering the walls there- The spaces in thel of toward the top and reducing the air-space, also helps to retard the admission of the heated air into the upper part of the dryingcompartment. The arrangement of the trays so as to be supported crosswisein my drier is veryconvenient. Two trays are supported in each tier and access had to each by opening the proper section of the doors e on either side. To further control the travel of the hot air, I employ a lseries of heat-deectorsjj 7c le' ZZ', each being a wing attached to an axle m, having a handle fm', `as shown in Figs. 4, 10, and 11. The adjustmentot' either of said detlectors is thus controllable,and each thereof may be so set as to direct the hot air evenly throughout the entire tiers of trays in a drying-compartment, being assisted in this respect by the graduation of the openings from the induction-passages o and bythe tlues a7 and the dampers aB therein provided. The circulation of the heated air through the drying-compartments is induced by means of said lines 0.7, through which it escapes rapidly or slowly, according to the adjustment of the dampers a8. The said dampers' may be used for two purposes: for controlling the escape of the heated air-as, for example, by partly closing the entire series of dampers in a flueor for `forcing the 'current of hot air to pass through the tiers of trays in uniform strata, reaching all parts of the trays from end to end and guarding against the fruit on any particular part of the trays drying faster than the remainder. This is done by opening one of the dampers more than the rest, whereby lack ot' uniformity in the air-current can be overcome. The slats t; are also respectively provided with shields t2 for the purpose of protecting the fruit lying nearest that edge of the tray which is first reached by the hot air admitted linto the compartments. I have found by experience that quite frequently the fruit so disposed dries long before the remaining fruit on the tray has been suiciently dried. By the use of the shields which I have just described the fruit so exposed is protected. The details of construction of such slats t', provided with said shields t?, are shown in Figs. 6 and 7 especially.

The central shields g, affixed to the slats h t' on both sides of the drying-compartments, are provided to protect the inner ends of the trays lying in the central part of the dryingcompartment against a direct current of hot air. These shields obstruct the free circulation of the hot air, which is very necessary, for the temperature usually rises more rapidly and the drying process is more rapid in the center of the compartments. There is also always a tendency for the fruit lying nearest the frame of the screens, especially in the corners thereof, to dry more rapidly than the fruit on the other parts of the trays.

This is probably due to the fact that the inherent moisture of the fruit affects the temperature of the hot air coming in contact with it and reduces the same, while the frames of the IOO IIS

trays being dry do not so affect the temperature. To overcome this uneven dryin gis one of the objects of the shields t2, and the shields q and the shields r, extending longitudinallyacross the central part of the mouth of the induction-passages, (see Fig. 4,) serve a like purpose, protecting the inner ends of the trays against direct ascending currents of hot air. The construction described of my drier is carried out from end t0 end, only that at the ends the induction-passages o' have but a single series of heat-deiiectors j Ic Z or j' it' Z.

When wishing to cut out a section of two drying-compartments from the rest of the drier, it is but necessary to turn down the deflectors Z Z and close the dampers n and also the dampers a8 of such section. To cut out therends, substantially the same means are resorted to.

In Figs. 8 and 9 a modification is introduced. At the same time the general plan ofconstruction of my invention is still carried out. The difference consists in the use of perpendicular posts g, on which are affixed slats, like h; but instead of inclining the drying-compartments and by so doing obtaining tapering air-induction passages and flaring air-eduction passages, with the resulting benefits above set forth, the air-shafts s, (extending into dues, like a7, and to be `provided with dampers, as o8, which-appurtenances I omitted for lack of space on the drawing-sheet,) are perpendicular, and with the exception of the center shaft of the drier, to be used exclusively as an leduction-passage, have diagonal partitions t, dividing the lower half of such shaft into an induction-passage, and the upper half into an eduction-passage for the hot-air currents. With perpendicular posts g the slats h 'L' must be slightly slanted and one of the two slats supporting trays set a little above the other to give the trays the desirable'incline. In other respects there is no diiference in this modification.

In Figs. l0 and l1 I have shown means for securing/the heat-deiiectors at a proper incline. The contrivance seen represents a set-screw u in the extremity of the handle m', the end of which set-screw may be insorted in a perforation u in the platen, attached to the exterior of the housing in proper place. When the proper adjustment of the heat-deflectorsj 7" la k' has once been ascertained, they may be fixed in such position.

When properly regulated, my invention will insure the rapid and uniform drying of the fruit in each individual tray and throughout the drying-compartments without danger of scorching or molding and with but little watching.

The heat-deliectors, like jj' It 7c l Z', which I make use of must be distinguished from mere dampers, because the functions of my detlectors is not to intercept the hot-air current, not to interrupt or cut up such current, but merely to divert or deflectth'e v'same t0- .Ward the particular portion of the trays in thed rying-compa-rt'ments. i f Now what I claim is o 1'. In a fruit-drier comprising a heating, or furnace chamber, and a su perstructure, or inclos'ure, built thereon, the combination of a series of transversely and parallelly extending compartments; intermediatealternating wedge-shaped hot-air induction and eduction passages communicating with said drying-compartments, the former of such passages communicating with the heatingchamber, and the latter .with a flue in the roof of the drier; dampers for controlling the admission of the hot-air inlets and outlets of said hot-air passages, and a series of heat-deectors in the induction-passages, substantially as described.

2. In a fruit-drier, comprising a heating or furnace chamber, and a superstructure or inclosure built thereon, the combination of a series of transversely and parallelly extend'- ing drying-compartments, and intermediate alternating Wedge-shaped hot-air induction and eduction passages, the said passages communicating with the said compartments, and the former thereof communicating with the heating-chamber, and the latter with a iiue in the roof ofthe drier; means for controlling the draft through the eduction-passages; a partial closure for the bottom of each of the drying-compartments leaving openings n; dampers controlling such openings;

and a series of heat-deflectors in the induction-passages, Vsubstantially as described.

3.7111 a fruit-drier, in combination, a heating or furnace chamber; a superstructure or inclosure built on such chamber, comprising a series of posts constituting the corners of a series of transversely-extendingdrying-compartments; the horizontal slats or rails h, t', affixed to said posts, providing supports for the fruit-trays,'and the closure of the sides of said compartments,V leaving spaces between the tray tiers; doors closingvthe ends ICO lIO

of such compartments; ythe wedge-shaped hoti air alternating induction and eduction passages between the drying-compartments; lthe former communicating with the heatingchamber, and the latter with a fine in the roof; means for controlling the draftthrough the eduction-passages; al partial closure for the door of each of the drying-compartments, leaving openings n; the dampers controlling such openings; and a series of heat-dodectors in the induction-passages, substantially as described.

4. In a fruit-drier, in combination', a heata series of' transversely-extending dryingcompartments; the horizontal slats or rails y72,71, aixed to said posts, providing supports for the fruit-trays, and the closure of the sides of said compartments, leaving spaces between Vthe tray tiers doors closingthe ends of such compartments; the wedge-shaped hot-air alternating induction and eduction passages between the drying-compartments; the former communicating with the heating-chamber, and the latter with a flue in the roof; means for' controlling the draft through the eduction-passages; the shields 2 projecting from the slats i on the inlet side of the drying-compartments; a partial closure for the iioor of each of the drying-compartments, leaving openings n; the dampers controlling such openings; and a series of heat-deflectors inthe induction-passages, substantially as described.

5. In a fruit-drier, in combination, a heating or furnace chamber; a superstructure or inclosure built on such chamber, comprising a series of posts constituting the corners of a series of transversely-extending drying-compartments; the horizontal slats or rails h, t', aiixed to said posts, providing supports for the fruit-trays, and the closure of the sides of said compartments, leaving spaces between the tray tiers; doors closing the ends of such compartments; the wedge-shaped hot-air alternating induction and eduction passages between the drying-compartments; the former communicating with the heating-chamber, and the latter with a line in the roof; means for controlling the draft through the eduction-passages; the shields 2 projecting from the slats t' on the inlet side of the drying-compartments; the backs of the slatst' along the upper half of the inlet side of the drying compartment being graduated in height, so as to gradually diminish, progressively, the rectangular openings between the said slats; a partial closure for the floor of each of the drying-compartments, leaving openings n; the dampers controlling such openings; and a series of heat-deectors in thel induction-passages, substantially as described.

6. In a fruit-drier, in combination, a heating or furnace chamber; a superstructure or inclosure built on such chamber, comprising a series of posts constituting the corners of a series of transversely-extending drying-compartments; the horizontal slats or rails h, t', affixed to said posts, providing supports for the fruit-trays, and the closure of the sides of said compartments, leaving spaces between the tray tiers; doors closing the ends of such compartments; the wedge-shaped hot-air alternating induction and eduction passages between the drying-compartments; the former communicating with the heating-chamber, and the latter with a iue in the roof; means for controlling the draft through the eduction-passages; the shields t2 projecting from the slats t' on the inlet side of the drying-compartments; the backs of the slats 'i along the upper half -of the inlet side of the drying-compartment being graduated in height, so as to gradually diminish, progressively, the rectangular openings between the said slats; the centrally-positioned shields q on both sides of each of the respective compartments; a partial closure for the floor of each of the drying-compartments, leaving openings fn; the dampers controlling such openings; and a series of heat-deliectors in the induction-passages, substantially as described.

, 7. In a fruit-drier, comprising a heating or furnace chamber, and a superstructure or inclosure built thereon, the combination of al series of transversely and parallelly extending drying-compartments, and intermediate alternatving wedge-shaped hot-air induction and eduction passages, the said passages communicating with the said compartments, and the former thereof communicating with theiheating-chamber, and the latter with a flue in the roof of the drier; means for controlling the draft through the eduction-passages; a partial closure for the bottom of each of the drying-compartments leaving openings n; the shields o extending longitudinally across the central part of the mouth of the inductionpassages; dampers controlling such openings; and a series of heat-deflectors in the induction-passages, substantially as described.

S. In a fruit-drier, in combination, a heating or furnace chamber; a superstructure or inclosure built 0n such chamber, comprising a series of posts constituting the corners of a series of transversely-extending drying-compartments; the horizontal slats or rails h, t', affixed to said posts, providing supports for the fruit-trays, and the closure of the sides of said compartments, leaving spaces between the tray tiers; doors closing the ends of such compartments; the Wedge-shaped hot-air alternating induction and ednction passages IOO between the drying-compartments; the former communicating with the heating-chamber, and the latter with a flue in the roof; the independently-adj ustable damper-sections as controlling said fines; the shields t2 projecting from the slats t' on the inlet side of 'the drying-compartments; the backs of the slats i along the upper half of the inlet side of the drying-compartments being graduated in height, so as to gradually diminish, progressively, the rectangular openings between the said slats; the centrally-positioned shields q on both sides of each of the respective compartments; a partial closure for the Hoor of each of the drying-compartments, leaving openings n; the shields r extending longitudinally across the central part of the mouth of the ind notion-passages; the dampers controlling such openings; and a series of heatdeflectors in the induction-passages, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW A. QUARNBERG.

Witnesses:

ROBT. ROBINSON, T. J. GEISLER.

IIO 

